The Lula City Council unanimously approved a motion at a called meeting on Tuesday to proceed with applying for a Georgia Environmental Facilities Association (GEFA) stimulus package totaling $3.5 million to fund the city’s new wastewater treatment plant.
Engineer Brian Rindt, Rindt-McDuff Associates, said on Tuesday that Lula could receive some federal stimulus funds. Rindt said the city applied for money for seven projects through Obama’s stimulus plan and the Georgia Environmental Facilities Association (GEFA).
“Lula wound up with four projects on GEFA’s fundable projects list,” Rindt said.
The four projects were: McLeod Street pump station, new wastewater treatment Batch Reactor plant, existing sewer line rehabilitation and existing water line rehabilitation.
“Only one project is allowed and it must be under $10 million,” Rindt said.
The cost of the new wastewater tretment plant is $8.757 million. Rindt said 40 percent of the total cost could be funded with stimulus money.
One issue with this is the fact that this is federal money and there are certain requirements that go into the contract. Another issue is some environmental issues that must be addressed for federal money to be used.
City manager Dennis Bergin said the city has already been approved for a GEFA loan in the amount of $3.95 million for this project.
Bergin said Lula already has an approved construction plan, the bid for both line construction and the plant, Environmental Protection Division (EPD) permitting approval for the type of facility and load management, financing in place, ownership of all rights of way and ownership of 27 acres for the new plant, and Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District audit approval on this project.
“It seems Lula has fallen into the right place at the right time,” Rindt said. “We have got to keep pushing real hard and make sure we are in front of the people that are in charge.”
Bergin said, “There are no guarantees, and there will be some delays and some additional costs. I think we are looking at two-and-a-half months on this.”
The city will now have to submit for a new State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan and apply for a Notice of No Significant Impact (NONSI) and Notice of No Assistant with the National Information Management System (NIMS). Bergin said he would get to work with Rindt on the 13 additional requirements the city must meet for this application immediately.
